What to Look For When Hiring a Lawyer in Turkey? Here are 5 Tips:
Finding a lawyer in Turkey can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, it’s easier than you might think. Here are five tips to help you choose an attorney who truly matches your needs and priorities.
1) Choose a Turkish Lawyer Who Graduated from One of the Top Universities
There are 84 law faculties in Turkey, which has led to a high population of Turkish lawyers and concerns about the declining overall quality of legal education. As such, it is recommended to carefully consider the academic background of a lawyer before selecting a lawyer in Turkey.
Question: Which are the top law schools in Turkey?
Answer: In terms of requiring the highest scores in the university entrance exam for admission, the top five law faculties among Turkish state universities are (in alphabetical order):
- Ankara University
- Boğaziçi University
- Galatasaray University
- Hacettepe University
- İstanbul University
2) Corporate vs Boutique Law Firms
By law, Turkish attorneys are permitted to allow their employees or other lawyers under their supervision to handle your case, draft petitions, and attend hearings. In fact, many large firms require you to include additional names on the power of attorney when hiring their services.
If you prefer your attorney to personally manage your case rather than delegating it to employees, you should consider working with a boutique law firm rather than a large, “corporate” law firm with dozens of lawyers. In larger firms, it is often the case that the Turkish lawyer you trust and pay fees to will not be the one attending hearings or directly handling your case.
It is also worth noting that Turkish law prohibits Turkish lawyers from incorporating their businesses, meaning they cannot register their law practices as companies. All lawyers in Turkey operate as sole proprietors or as employees of other individual lawyers. As a result, there are no legal entity “law firms” in Turkey, despite the sometimes misleading titles used. Additionally, Turkish lawyers are prohibited from opening branches or managing multiple offices. While some practices may emulate corporate structures, technically speaking, there are no corporate law firms in Turkey.
3) Choose an English-Speaking Turkish Lawyer to Avoid Language Barriers
It is crucial that your attorney communicates in your language at a professional business level. A language barrier can lead to misunderstandings of your instructions to the attorney as well as misunderstandings of the attorney’s advice to you. Furthermore, if your attorney does not speak your language and you are forced to use a translator, this introduces an outsider into your communication, potentially compromising attorney-client confidentiality. Therefore it is recommended that you choose an English-speaking Turkish lawyer to avoid language barriers.
4) Look for Transparency in Fee Structure
Your attorney is legally and ethically obligated to maintain transparency regarding the legal fee structure. This includes providing a detailed breakdown of fees in a written contract sent to you, as well as issuing official written receipts for all payments made.
Regarding expenses, your Turkish attorney must explain the reason for any advance payment requested and provide you with written proof of all expenses incurred at the conclusion of the matter.
If your Turkish attorney fails to maintain transparency about fees and expenses, you have the right to request a written account detailing all fees, advances, and expenses. This ensures accountability and protects your interests as a client.
5) Make Sure Your Attorney is Accessible
Once you hire a Turkish attorney, it is crucial that they remain accessible during business hours. Insufficient communication is one of the main causes of disputes between clients and attorneys. When clients do not receive regular updates on the progress of their cases, it can create a sense of mistrust and distance between the attorney and the client, regardless of the actual status of the case.
That said, while it is important for the attorney to keep the client informed and be available during business hours, it is equally important for the client to respect the attorney’s privacy and boundaries outside of these hours. Mutual respect and clear communication are essential for a successful attorney-client relationship.
Baris Erkan Celebi is an English-speaking Turkish lawyer who exclusively represents foreign investors in Turkey. His law firm in Turkey specializes in providing international investors in Turkey with reliable legal counsel and personalized business solutions.
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Baris Erkan Celebi is an English-speaking Turkish lawyer who exclusively represents foreign investors in Turkey. His law firm in Turkey specializes in providing international investors in Turkey with reliable legal counsel and personalized business solutions.
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